Talent identification
.jpg)
Talent Identification (TID) is the multidisciplinary screening of people in order to identify those with the potential for World Class success. Athletes selected through TID have no prior involvement in the sport they have been identified for. i.e. raw talent
TASS FUNDING - Sept 2011
Applications for TASS are open and can be made using the form below. Please read the selection criteria carefully as only athletes who meet this criteria can be considered. Closing date for applications is 14th October 2011.
Application form
TASS Selection Criteria
Talent structure in England
Each English region runs a regional academy which meets regularly and which provides extra support and training to the most talented athlete within their region. These academies and their programmes do not replace but rather augment the athletes’ personal programmes, nor do they replace their club or current coach. Details of each region’s academy can be found on the relevant regional website (http://www.britishtriathlon.org/triathlonengland)
Assessment to both regional and national talent level is based initially on a points system which allocates points for both swimming and running times over different distances based on age. Athletes need to be strong in both disciplines. There is a calculator on the British Triathlon website where athletes put in their age and their times over the required distance for their age. This then allocates them a standard of gold, silver or bronze or below.
Regional academies aim to attract athletes of bronze to silver level while national level athletes are of gold standard. This however is only an indication of raw talent and other qualities such as attitude and competitive instinct are also important. The young athlete also needs to show steady improvement and that their ability is not just due to early physical development when compared against their peers
Scotland and Wales
Scotland has a national talent development squad, the selection criteria and application process for can be found on the triathlonScotland website .
Wales also has its own academy structure in place, details of which can be found here.
Wales and Scotland follow the same points criteria for selection as in England and also aim for athletes to develop to join the British Triathlon Performance pathway and World Class Talent Squad.
Youth and Junior Race Series
The best young athletes in the UK race in this series which ranks youth and juniors nationally. Details of the series can be found here
Competing in this series should be the key focus for athletes who want to prove they are of a high national standard.
.jpg)
How should talented athletes get involved in triathlon?
For athletes who are new to the sport there are a number of key elements:
- Join a local triathlon club. The British Triathlon website has details of all registered clubs in the UK. Look for one close to you and which welcomes junior members. Most clubs will arrange training sessions at least twice a week and provide valuable coaching assistance.
- Apply to your regional academy if of bronze standard or above. If accepted there will be opportunities to prove yourself against other talented athletes and your progress will be monitored. As outlined above, this complements club membership and should not take the place of the regular contact and coaching gained through club membership.
- Enter a number of junior/youth races to gain competition experience. This includes multi sport events – triathlon, duathlon, aquathon - and individual sports events such as cross country, track running, swimming galas etc. British Triathlon provides competition guidelines for athletes at all different ages. In the events section of the British triathlon website there is a list of all registered multi sport races in the UK which can be searched by category or by region.
- Enter and compete in your regional series races.
- Compete in the Youth and Junior Series.
Any further queries please contact mhairibillington@britishtriathlon.org
Applying for the National Talent Squad
Applications are taken in the summer for the National Talent Squad and the applications will be available here when open. British Triathlon also support nominations to TASS and Sportsaid, again which take place in the autumn.
